Lettering-guide.



FRANK BROWN, or LOS anennns, CALIFORNIA.

LETTERING-GUIDE.

Application filed. August 28, 19.16. Serial No. 117,358.

the like to architectural drawings, and the like.

My device consists of a transparent body plate, preferably provided with guiding means such as guide lines at right angles to each other enabling the operator to position the lettering guide in relation to the figures on the drawings. On the main plate, a peripheral flange is mounted whose lower face is in a plane slightly above the plane of the lower face of the main plate. The inner sides of the flange are cut away to form with the adjacent sides of the main plate, a series of longitudinal openings constituting lettering guides. 1

In one of the forms of the lettering guide, the flange is adjustably connected to the main plate whereby the width of the longitudinal opening may be regulated as desired. The flange is provided with graduations adapted to register with a stationary mark, whereby the width of the opening may be measured. I

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, I have illustrated two forms of my device, and in which: 1 I Figure 1 is a top plan View of my lettering guide. 2

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof- Fig. 3 is a' vertical section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a modification of the invention. 7

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5, of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the lettering guide consists of a rectangular flatbottom plate 10 with a beveled edge. A plate 11 of the same shape but larger is cementedon the bottom plate 10 and forms a marginal flange 11 of uniform width extending laterally therefrom on the four sides. On the inner side of the. flange 11','a plurality of longitudinal guide openings 12 are provided which I have shown as four in number, one for each side of the flange 11. These openings are of various widths .to accommodate letters or figures of different sizes. The guide openings 12 are arranged parallel to the sides of the bottom plate as shown in Fig. 1; The outer edges of the openings are formed by the flange 11, while the inner edges are formed by theedges of the bottom plate 10. The outer longitudinal edges of the guide openings are beveled and inclined toward the beveled edges of the bottom plate 10. In order to bring the work nearer to the draftsman, I prefer to cut recesses 13 in the top plate, extending from the beveled edge of the bottom plate 10 for a slight distance, and parallel thereto. I have shown the lettering guide illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as composed of two plates cemented together, though it will be understood that the same may be formed of one piece. I

The lower face of the bottom plate 10jis provided with parallel lines 14 at right angles to each other, which constitute guide lines and assist the draftsman in properly positioning his lettering guide on the draw ings in relation to lines or figures thereon.

Referring to the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the same consists of a bottom plate 15, rectangular in shape, and provided on its lower face with two sets of parallel guide lines 16 at right angles to each other. Marginal flanges 17, are either formed inte gral with said bottom plate 15 or are securely cemented to the cornersthereof and extend from three sides. The inner sides of said flanges 17 are recessed as at18, forming with the edges of the bottom plate 15 longitudinal guide. openings 19 with parallel straight edges, said edges being beveled. On the fourth side of the bottom plate 15 and between the outer ends of the first and third flanges 17 is'anadjustable guide flange 20. The legs 21 of the adjustable flange are provided with slots 22 through which threaded bolts 23 secured to the bottom plate 15 extend. Milled thumb nuts 24 engage said bolts and serve to clamp the adjustable flange 20 in position. The inner side of the adjustable flange is beveled and forms with the beveled edge of the main plate 15 an adjustable lettering guide. The outer edges of the legs 21 are provided with graduations adapted to register with indicia such as arrow heads 26 on the adjacent sides of the fixed flanges 17, whereby the width of the slot may be measured. 27 indicate apertures passing through the main plate whereby the lettering guide may be conveniently sus pended from a nail or pin.

In the operation of the lettering guide, the same is placed on the drawing and moved in position, the guide lines on the face of the bottom plate assisting the draftsman to place it in the position desired in relation to the figures of the drawings. Then with a drawing pen, or the like, the letters are written inthe guide opening that has been selected for use. The height of the letters is determined by the width or the guide opening, and the draftsman is enabled to apply letters. of uniform height with ease and rapidity, the opposite edges of the opening acting as stops to the movement of the pen. Since the marginal flange of the letterinfg guide is spaced from the bottom face of the bottom plate, the lettering device may be moved in the direction of the major axis of the guide opening which is in use, without danger of blurring the wet ink of the letterin V In using the modification shown in Figs. 4t and 5, the width of the lettering guide opening formed by the adjustable flange 2O may be regulated as described.

I prefer to construct the bottom plate and the marginal flanges of celluloid, but any other suitable transparent material may be substituted therefor.

The marginal flanges may be provided withspacing lines 28 which extend parallel to the letter guide openings. By means of these spacing lines the draftsman is enabled to space the lines of his letterings by moving the lettering guide toward him so that the spacin line will register with the top or bottom of the lines just completed. The inner edge of the letter guide opening may be provided with graduations 29 to assist the draftsman in horizontally spacing the individual letters or digits. 7

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in the detail of the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the 1 appended claims.

0 eni'n' bein beveled. said "late bein re- 7 s P g P vided with guide lines at right angles to each other whereby the lettering guide may be positioned on the paper in relation to the drawings thereon.

2. lettering guide comprising a rectangular main body plate of transparent mate rial adapted to lie flat on the paper to be lettered, and provided with guide lines wherebv the same may be positioned on the paper in relation to the drawings thereon, marginal flanges-secured to said plate, and extending from three sides, the lower faces of said flanges being slightly above the lower face of said main plate, the inner edges of said flanges being cut away to form with the adj acent sides of said plate a series of letter guide openings of ditl'erent width, an adjustable flange mounted on the fourth side of said plate and having legs provided with slots, a pair of threaded bolts secured to said plate and extending through said slots, thumb nuts on said bolt for clamping said adjustable flange in position, whereby the same may be adjusted to form with the adjacent edge of said plate a longitudinal letter guide opening of variable width, the lone: edges of all of said guide openings being beveled.

A lettering guide comprising a main body plate, adapted to lie flaton the paper to be lettered, an adjustable guide flange mounted thereon, said guide flange extending laterally from said plate and slightly above the lower face or" said main plate, means for adjustably' clamping said. guide flange to said main plate, said mean's com prising a pair of threaded bolts Secured, to said main plate and extending through slots in said guide flange, and thumb nuts on said bolts, the inner edge of said flange forming with the adjacent edge of said main plate a longitudinal letter guide opening of vari able width, said guide flange being provided witlrindicia for measuring the width of said opening.

l. A lettering guide comprising a main body plate made or transparent material adapted to lie flat on the paper to be let tered, and a guide flange laterally extending from one side thereof, said guide flange forming with the adjacent edge of the main body plate a letter guide opening, said plate being provided with guide lines whereby the lettering guide may be positioned on the pa per in relation to the drawings thereon.

5. A lettering guide comprising a main body plate made of transparent material adapted to lie flat on the paper to belettered, said plate being provided with means for positioning the same in relation to the drawings on the paper on which it is to be used, an adjustable guide flange extending laterally from one of the sides of said main plate, the inner side ofsaid flange forming with theadjacent side of said plate a letter its uide opening of variable Width, and means lor adjustably holding said guide flange in relation to said main plate, said flange being provided with indicia for measuring the Width of said letter guide opening.

6. A lettering guide, comprising a main body plate of transparent material adapted to lie flat on the paper to be lettered, and an adjustable guide flange extending laterally from one side of said main plate, the inner edge of said flange forming with the adjacent edge of said main plate a longitudinal lettering opening of variable width, the lower face of said guide flange being elevated to permit the movement of the device in the direction at right angles to the length I of said opening without touching the letters formed in said letter guide opening.

7. A lettering guide comprising a main body plate made of transparent material adapted to lie flat on the paperto be lettered, said plate being provided with means for positioning the same in relation to the drawings on the paper on which it is to be used, a guide flange extending laterally from one of the sides of said main plate, the inner side of said flange forming with the adjacent side of said plate a letter guide opening, said flange being laterally movable in 8. A lettering guide comprising a main J body plate adapted to lie flat on the paper to be lettered, a guide flange extending laterally from one side of said plate, and said guide flange being made of transparent material, said flange being slightly above the bottom face of said plate and the inner side of said flange forming with theadjacent side of said plate a longitudinal letter guide opening, and means on said-plate for positioning the same in relation to the drawing of the paper on Whichit is to be used, one of the edges forming said opening being provided with indicia for laterally spacing the letters formed in said opening, said flange being provided with indicia for spacing the lines of letters formed in said opening. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. I

FRANK BROWN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

